Israel announces first criminal investigations into killings of Gaza teenagers

The Israeli army announced it will open an inquiry into the killing of two Palestinians teenagers, the first inquiry into a wave of shootings of Gaza protesters.

MENA

2 min read

The New Arab

22 August, 2018

Israeli forces have killed more than 170 Palestinians since the Great Return March [Getty]

Israel's military said on Tuesday it would launch a criminal investigation into two incidents in which its troops shot dead Palestinian teenagers taking part in protests along the Gaza border.

The inquiry into the deaths of the two Palestinians, Abed Nabi, 18 and Othman Helles, 15, will be the first announced by the military since demonstrations began five months ago.

Israeli forces have killed more than 170 Palestinians since the Great Return March border protests began on 30 March, while more than 17,500 have been injured.

"I ask for justice and to put the soldier who has wrongfully shot my son on trial. He was shot in the back. I ask for psychological and financial compensation for what we are going through," Bahjat Nabi, Nabi's father, said.

Initial inquiries into the two killings 13 July raised "a suspicion that the shooting in these incidents was not in accordance with standard operating procedures" said a statement from the Israeli army.

Protest organisers identified Abed Nabi in videos posted on social media, dropping to the ground as he ran holding a tyre, adding that he was shot with his back to the Israeli forces.

Israel on Sunday closed its only crossing for Palestinians with the Gaza Strip, days after its forces shot and killed two Palestinian protesters along the Israel-Gaza separation barrier. The only goods crossing was reopened just last week after closing it to most deliveries for more than a month.

Israel has enforced an air, land and sea blockade on the Gaza Strip for more than a decade, but grants permission to a limited number of people to cross for various reasons.

Egyptian and UN officials were hoping to finalise the details of a long-term truce between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip after the escalation in violence led to fears of a fourth war.

The UN has said a continuing blockade would make Gaza "unliveable" by 2020.